Amidst ongoing clashes, albeit now intermittent, between forces of the Syrian Transitional Government and Iran-backed/former Assad regime forces in the Latakia Governorate, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said that more than 70 people have been killed, with dozens more wounded in the clashes.

China is now attempting to exploit recent statements and actions made by the Trump Administration against Europe, with China’s Special Representative for European Affairs, Lu Shaye stating yesterday that he was “appalled” by the way President Trump had treated allies in Europe, while adding that a peace deal in Ukraine should not be dictated by the United States and Russia alone, but also by Ukraine itself and Europe. Lu further stated to Chinese state media, “Are people still asking whether China is leaning towards Russia? If they are, they should blame the U.S. too. The U.S. is not only leaning towards Russia, they are supporting Russia.”

These kind of statements from Chinese officials, especially known “Wolf Warriors” like Lu Shaye, will likely continue over the coming weeks and months ahead, as the Trump Administration pursues its inflammatory rhetoric against Europe, NATO and Ukraine. China will attempt to exploit this to the full degree, as they wish to increase and eventually normalize relations with Europe, which have soured in recent years due to China’s clear support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Wow, footage filmed by a passenger onboard a commercial flight flying near Florida and the Lucayan Archipelago, captured the breakup of SpaceX’s “Starship Flight 8” as it reentered Earth’s atmosphere earlier tonight near the Turks and Caicos.

After a South Korean court approved the revocation of the detention order against impeached South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol, the embattled decision-maker is set to be released from a detention facility today. His political allies have decried his arrest and subsequent detention and have lauded the decision by the court.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday the arrest of Jian Zhao and Li Tian, both active-duty soldiers with the U.S. Army stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, along with Ruoyu Duan, a former U.S. Army soldier, following indictments by federal grand juries in the District of Oregon and the Western District of Washington. Tian and Duan have been charged in the District of Oregon for conspiring to commit bribery and theft of government property, while Zhao has been charged by the Western District of Washington with conspiring to obtain and transmit national defense information to an individual not authorized to receive it, and also for bribery and theft of government property.

According to inditement in Oregon, beginning around November 28th, 2021, Duan and Tian along with others, known and unknown, conspired with each other to surreptitiously gather sensitive military information related to the United States Army’s operational capabilities, including technical manuals and other sensitive information about the “Bradley” and “Stryker” IFVs, and that Tian transmitted this information to Duan in return for money, in violation of his official duties as an active-duty U.S. Army officer.

According to the inditement in Washington, beginning in July 2024, Jian Zhao, an active-duty U.S. Army Supply Sergeant, conspired with others known and unknown to obtain and transmit national defense information to individuals based in China. This information included several classified hard drives marked both “SECRET” and “TOP SECRET” for which Zhao was provided $10,000. Zhao is further alleged to have conspired to sell an encryption capable computer that was stolen from the U.S. Government, and sensitive U.S. military documents and information, related to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), and information related to U.S. military readiness in the event of a conflict with the People’s Republic of China.

Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi stated following their arrest, “The defendants arrested today are accused of betraying our country, actively working to weaken America’s defense capabilities and empowering our adversaries in China. — They will face swift, severe, and comprehensive justice.”

The U.S-based Geospatial Intelligence Company, Maxar Technologies has reportedly cut off Ukraine’s access to Satellite Imagery, following a request from the Trump Administration.

The Syrian Government has expanded their ongoing Counter-Insurgency Operation against Pro-Assad Militias in the Northwest, to now include the entirety of both the Latakia and Tartus Governorates, as Military and Security Reinforcements continue to arrive.

U.S. President Trump told Fox Business earlier today, that he sent a letter yesterday to Iranian Supreme-General Ali Khamenei, urging him to make a deal regarding Iran’s nuclear program with the United States; with Trump adding, “If Iran doesn't negotiate, it will be very ugly for them. Iran can’t have nukes. Other options are available.”

Heavy clashes are continuing to occur in the Latakia Governorate of Northwestern Syria, as forces of the Syrian Government continue to advance against pro-Assad militias, with upwards of 180 opposition fighters said to have been eliminated so far. The Syrian military has also now accused pro-Assad forces of using the Alawites ethic group as “human shields” with most fighters captured being summarily executed.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced today during a speech to the Polish Parliament, that efforts are underway to “prepare large-scale military training for every adult male in Poland” as a result of the security situation in Europe, further stating that the Polish Army needs to increase in size from 200,000 to 500,000. Tusk also appeared to express support for Poland’s development of nuclear weapons, saying to Parliament, “Poland must pursue the most advanced capabilities, including nuclear and modern unconventional weapons.”

Following last night’s large-scale Russian missile attack against energy and fuel infrastructure in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald J. Trump has now stated in a post on Truth Social, “I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED. To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!”

Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations was asked earlier about the letter U.S. President Trump claimed he sent to Iranian Supreme-Leader Ali Khamenei, stating, “We have not received such a letter so far.”

According to Barak Ravid of Axios, a senior White House official has said that "Trump's rage has been intensifying" in the past few days as Russia continues to increase the tempo of its strike campaign on Ukrainian civilian and energy infrastructure. In a recent post on Truth Social, President Trump urged both parties to “get to the table right now”. This comes as U.S. and Ukrainian decision-makers are set to meet this upcoming week in Saudi Arabia.

However, it should be noted that we’ve seen such frustrations play out before in the peace process and it has yet to materialize into any actions that would be detrimental to the Russian war effort. As the administration continues to compound on actions that hobble the Ukrainian war effort, it remains to be seen how serious President Trump is about these sanctions.

According to a release from the Israeli Air Force (IAF), after observing a group of terrorists planting an explosive device in the ground in the northern Gaza Strip, aircraft of the IAF struck the group and eliminated them.

Footage has appeared online, appearing to show forces under the Syrian Interim Government dropping barrel bombs out the back of a Mi-8 helicopter, onto Assadist positions along the coast of Jableh in the Latakia Governorate, close to Russia’s Khmeimim Air Base. The use of barrel bombs was one of the heavy criticisms of the previous Assad Regime, due to their poor accuracy and likelihood to result in collateral damage.

As tensions with Russia continue to rise in Europe, discussions are now ongoing in both Finland and Poland, about their withdrawal from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention also known as the Ottawa Treaty, which banned the use of anti-personnel mines in war and was signed by most of Europe in 1997, but not China, Russia or the United States.

While addressing the Polish Parliament earlier today, Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed support for withdrawing from both the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, as well as the Convention on Cluster Munitions

During an ongoing presser at the White House, U.S. President Donald J. Trump and White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz have compounded on the president’s past comments that he would like both sides, Ukraine and Russia, to come to the table. However, President Trump stopped short of admitting that the Russians are currently taking advantage of the reduction in U.S. direct military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine, saying “I’m not sure if they [Ukraine] really want to settle.” He did, however, admit that Russia is increasing the tempo of strikes to apply pressure to Ukraine.

During a now-concluded presser with White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, U.S. President Donald J. Trump has compounded on past statements saying that a deal with Iran on its burgeoning nuclear program would be ideal. However, the president alluded to other, more direct actions, saying, “That something is going to happen pretty soon. You’ll be talking about that pretty soon.” This comes soon after President Trump announced that he sent a letter to Iran's top decision-maker, the Ayatollah, urging for a peaceful reconciliation over their nuclear program.

According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, he spoke with his U.S. counterpart, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, over the phone today. They spoke on the upcoming U.S.-Ukraine talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and bilateral cooperation. While no mention of the unsigned mineral deal was made, it’s likely that this and other topics touched on by the Trump administration in the past week were also the topic of conversation.